Device for transferring bottles held in the neck area by means of grippers or the like

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device ( 1 ) for transferring bottles ( 4 ), containers, or the like held by means of grippers ( 3 ), clips, clamps, or the like, from one transport star wheel ( 2   a ) to another ( 2   b ), or to a rinser, filler, or the like, wherein such bottles are held only in one plane, particularly below the neck ring. This is achieved in that the grippers ( 3 ) are positioned on a plane in the transfer area, having a delivery opening and transfer opening positioned one in front of the other in the transfer area, and having at least one diverting element ( 6 ) for sliding or transferring the bottle ( 4 ) from a gripper ( 3   a ) of a turning circle to a gripper ( 3   b ) of the other turning circle.

The invention relates to a device for transferring bottles, containers or the like, which are held in the neck area by means of grippers, clips, clamps or the like, from one transport star wheel to another, particularly in bottle cleaning and filling plants for plastic bottles for example.

In the course of transport through appropriate plants, the bottles are in each case held in the neck area by grippers, clips, clamps and comparable elements, wherein the clamps are positioned on so-called transport star wheels. These clamps often have an inherent opening and closing behavior, for instance due to an intrinsic flexibility or due to being spring-loaded, or they may also be actively opened and closed. If bottles are transferred for example from one transport star wheel to another transport star wheel, it is known to configure the transport star wheels with their clamp paths partially overlapping, wherein the bottles are forcibly pushed from one clamp into the other. This construction is generally relatively complicated and thus is also not particularly easy to clean.

Another problem lies in the fact that there is a tendency increasingly to handle for example PET bottles without a securing groove in order to save weight, so that the task of a securing groove must be performed by the neck ring.

This is where the invention comes into play, the aim of which is to hold such bottles only in one plane, namely generally below the neck ring.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the grippers are positioned on a plane in the transfer area and are positioned with their delivery opening and acceptance opening one in front of the other in the transfer area, and at least one diverting element is provided for sliding or transferring the bottle from a gripper of one transport star wheel or turning circle to a gripper of the other transport star wheel or turning circle.

By virtue of the invention, the situation is noticeably achieved whereby the bottles are held in one plane by the two clamps, wherein a pushing of a bottle out of one gripper or clip into the other gripper or clip is possible in this plane. In the system shown here, the transfer from one turning circle to the other means that the movement paths of the bottle axes do not run tangentially, as is the case with meshing clamps or grippers. As a result, the transfer from one turning circle to the next is improved since the opposed centrifugal forces are decoupled. The radial pushing is an intermediate step in which the bottle is subjected to an impulse above the center of gravity of the bottle, which impulse counteracts or attenuates the deflection caused by the centrifugal force of the first turning circle.

Configurations in particular of the front side of such grippers, which generally bear bluntly against one another, can be found in the further dependent claims. It may be provided that the grippers are equipped with grippers which have a straight front edge that bears bluntly against the respective other edge of the opposite gripper arm at the transfer point.

In a further embodiment, it is provided according to the invention that the front sides of the grippers of one transport star wheel have an end profile at an angle to the horizontal plane, wherein the corresponding, opposite front sides of the grippers of the other transport star wheel have an inversely oriented contour so that the front sides mate with one another when positioned opposite one another.

Advantageously, it may also be provided according to the invention that the front sides of the grippers of one transport star wheel are provided with a V-shaped groove and the opposite front sides of the grippers of the other transport star wheel are provided with a wedge-shaped configuration which engages in the groove and/or that the front sides of the grippers of one transport star wheel are provided with a semicircular groove and the opposite front sides of the grippers of the other transport star wheel are provided with a bead.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and with reference to the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view in elevation of two transport star wheels with bottle clips and indicated bottles,

FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of such a pair of clips in the transfer position,

FIG. 3 shows a side view along III in FIG. 2,

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a clip variant in the same view as FIGS. 2 and 3, and

FIG. 6 shows a view of the transfer position from transport star wheel to transport star wheel, approximately in the same view as FIG. 1.

The device, which is generally denoted by 1, comprises inter alia a first transport star wheel 2 a with a plurality of clamps or grippers 3 a distributed around the circumference and a second transport star wheel 2 b which is associated with said transport star wheel 2 a and likewise has grippers 3 b distributed around the circumference, wherein bottles 4 are grasped in their neck area 5 by the grippers 3 a and 3 b. The aim is to transfer the bottles 5 from the grippers 3 a into the grippers 3 b of the transport star wheel 2 b in the position shown in FIG. 1, which can be brought about for example via a forced guidance by means of a transfer cam or a similar component, generally denoted 6 in FIG. 4.

As can be seen, the grippers 3 lie on precisely the same plane in such a way that they are located with their grippers 7 or the front sides 7 a thereof bluntly in front of one another, so that in the position shown in FIG. 1 the bottle 4 can be pushed out of the grippers 7 and into the grippers of the opposite gripper. This position is shown on an enlarged scale in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example of embodiment of the clamp or gripper 3 that is modified in comparison to FIGS. 2 and 3. Here, the grippers 7′ have a front side 7 a′ which is beveled on one side and which is configured in such a way that the two grippers of different grippers mate with one another, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 5.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous if at least the grippers (3 a) of one turning circle (2 a) are mounted in such a way that they can pivot in the circumferential direction of the turning circle and in the plane spanned by the grippers. They can thus somewhat follow the movement of the bottles or containers during the transfer, which allows trouble-free operation. Of course, it is advantageous if the grippers (3 a, 3 b) of two adjacent turning circles (2 a, 2 b) are mounted in such a way that they can pivot in the circumferential direction of the turning circle. The angle range required here is at most up to +/−30° relative to the vertical of the turning circle (2 a, 2 b). Grippers mounted in this way generally pivot in an angle range of 5° to 15°.

A comparable result or advantage can be achieved with grippers or clips which have elastic grippers and/or main bodies, so that it is likewise possible to follow or hasten to meet the bottle movement. The combination of pivotability and elasticity is also advantageous, wherein a pivotably mounted gripper or clip additionally has elastic grippers and/or an elastic main body.

Of course, the described examples of embodiments of the invention can be further modified in many ways. For instance, one gripper front side may be configured as a V-shaped groove, while the engagement side of the opposite transport star wheel is wedge-shaped or the like. The above terms transport star wheel and turning circle are used synonymously, these also being able to be understood to mean a filler star wheel, rinser star wheel or the like without departing from the teaching of the invention. 

1-8. (canceled)
 9. An apparatus for transferring a container disposed in a transfer area of a container-processing machine from a first component of the container-processing machine to a second component of the container-processing machine, said apparatus comprising a first gripper for holding the container in a neck area thereof, said first gripper being associated with said first component; a second gripper for receiving the container from said first gripper by holding said container in a neck area thereof, said second gripper being associated with said second component; and a diverting element for sliding or transferring the container from said first gripper to said second gripper when said first and second grippers are in said transfer area; wherein, when disposed in said transfer area, said first and second grippers are coplanar with each other and positioned facing each other.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein: said first gripper comprises a straight front edge, and said second gripper comprises a straight front edge, wherein, when said first and second grippers are disposed opposite each other in said transfer area, said straight front edge of said first gripper bears bluntly against said straight front edge of said second gripper.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first gripper comprises a front edge beveled at a first angle, and said second gripper comprises a front edge beveled at a second angle selected to mate with said beveled front edge of said first gripper, wherein, when said first and second grippers are disposed opposite each other in said transfer area, said beveled front edge of said first gripper mates with said said beveled front edge of said second gripper.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first gripper comprises a front side having a V-shaped groove, and said second gripper comprises a front side having a wedge-shaped configuration for engaging said V-shaped groove when said first and second grippers are disposed opposite each other in said transfer area.
 13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first gripper comprises a front side having a semicircular groove, and said second gripper comprises a front side having a bead for engaging said semicircular groove when said first and second grippers are disposed opposite each other in said transfer area.
 14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first gripper is mounted to pivot circumferentially around a turning circle in a plane spanned by said first gripper.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said second gripper is mounted to pivot circumferentially around a turning circle spanned by said second gripper.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first gripper pivots across a range of angles extending ±30° relative to a vertical of said turning circle.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first and second grippers pivot across a range of angles extending ±30° relative to a vertical of their respective turning circles.
 18. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of said first and second components comprises a star wheel. 